In her homeland she is considered a scandalous aristocrat, and her first marriage made headlines for months. Now the Dutch Princess Margarita (50), niece of ex-Queen Beatrix (85), has announced her second divorce.
Photographer Patrick Van Katwijk, a close family friend, said on Instagram: “Princess Margarita and Tjalling ten Cate have announced their divorce.” He quoted the royal couple as saying: “After a wonderful time of more than 16 years together, in which we have shared joys and sorrows, each of us will now go our own way.” The two daughters, Julia (14) and Paola (12), will be taken care of together.
Margarita had given the yes word to the lawyer ten Cate in May 2008. Before that, she was married to entrepreneur Edwin de Roy van Zuydewijn from 2001 to 2006. He had messed with the Dutch royal family during the marriage and caused a scandal that became known in Holland as the “Margarita Affair”. Among other things, he accused the royal family and the Dutch secret service of obstructing the work of his company and of tapping telephone calls. As a result, Margarita was not allowed to attend the wedding of her cousin, King Willem-Alexander (55). She was also not wanted at the funeral of her uncle, Prince Claus of the Netherlands.
